She said she has "so many questions" for Hazell, adding: "Sometimes I feel pity. Sometimes I want to hurt him."

In his statement, Mr Carter said his heart had been "shattered" by his daughter's death.

"My last memory of Tia is her jumping into my arms, giving me a kiss and her telling me she loved me," he said.

"I will never get this opportunity again, but it is one of the many memories I will cherish for the rest of my life."

Tia's body, which the prosecution said was "carefully wrapped" in a sheet and bin bags, was found a week after she went missing in August last year.

Jurors heard Hazell's semen was found on her bed and on her night clothes, while her blood was found on the belt Hazell was wearing when he was arrested.

Tia's disappearance sparked a huge police operation, but her body was missed during initial searches of the loft.

Hazell - who has previous convictions for drug dealing, burglary, theft, racially aggravated assault and possession of a machete in a public place - joined the search for the youngster.

In a television interview filmed at the time, he claimed he was "playing the role of bereaved grandparent".

His change of plea came after four days of graphic evidence, including a photograph allegedly of Tia after she died.

Mrs Sharp frequently had to leave the courtroom, visibly distressed.

During the trial, the jury was shown a letter Hazell wrote to his father from Belmarsh Prison, begging for forgiveness.

He said he was not a "bad person" and added: "One mistake and my whole world has collapsed. My fault, I know."

DCI Nick Scola, senior investigation officer of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "The evidence was overwhelming and clearly Hazell realised he had no choice but to plead guilty.

"However, he put Tia's family through a week of heartbreaking evidence in court and I wish for their sakes he had admitted his guilt sooner.

"Hazell is an extremely dangerous individual who poses a significant threat to young girls and it is only right that he should be imprisoned and removed from society so that he can no longer pose any risk."